CFA Statement on USDA Animal ID System

Public accountability equals public credibility and the proposed
animal identification system described by Secretary Johanns today has
none of either. It would be shocking and irresponsible to use public
money, money paid as taxes by all Americans, to support a program that
was designed solely to address the concerns of cattlemen and structured
to deny public officials access to information collected using public
funds. As currently structured, neither state nor federal officials
will know on an ongoing basis whether information is being collected
effectively and recorded honestly.

NAIS was designed by the cattlemen, for the cattlemen. It satisfies
the needs and demands of the people who raise cattle. The millions of
American and Japanese consumers who buy beef to feed their families
should not be deluded into thinking this program helps control animal
disease or make their food safer.